Women’s voices are now considered “intimate,” prohibiting them from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public
KABUL: The Taliban has enacted a series of strict new laws in Afghanistan, significantly curtailing the presence and freedom of women in public spaces. These regulations, approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, were announced on Wednesday and mark a severe tightening of control over various aspects of daily life in the country, particularly affecting women.
Among the most notable of the new rules is the requirement for women to fully veil themselves in public. The guidelines are explicit, dictating that women’s clothing must be designed to prevent any form of temptation, reinforcing the Taliban’s rigid interpretation of modesty and propriety. The laws also address the sound of women’s voices, now classified as “intimate,” effectively banning women from singing, reciting, or even reading aloud in public. This measure severely restricts women’s ability to participate in public life and cultural activities.
These regulations represent the first formal declaration of vice and virtue laws since the Taliban’s resurgence to power in 2021. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, reinstated shortly after the Taliban’s return, will be responsible for enforcing these draconian measures. The ministry’s purview now includes a ban on music, restrictions on the transportation of solo female travelers, and the prohibition of interactions between unrelated men and women in public spaces.
The international community, particularly the United Nations, has expressed grave concern over these developments. The UN has highlighted the growing climate of fear and intimidation, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan, who face increasingly severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms. The UN’s condemnation reflects widespread global alarm at the Taliban’s repressive policies, which threaten to further isolate Afghanistan and exacerbate the suffering of its population, particularly its women.
These new laws have sparked outrage and despair among Afghan women, who see their hard-won freedoms being systematically stripped away. The Taliban’s latest actions reinforce their commitment to enforcing a deeply conservative and patriarchal social order, further marginalizing women in all aspects of public and private life. As the international community watches with concern, the situation for women in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate under the Taliban’s rule, raising urgent questions about the future of human rights in the country.
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